June 24, 2008

Lightning May Have Hit Several Homes in Area

Jun. 24--Several houses were apparently hit by lightning during Monday's late afternoon storms.

Firefighters responded to houses in West Kittanning and Applewold between 5:30 and 6 p.m. yesterday and determined that some houses were either struck directly or the lightning strike occurred nearby.

Dispatchers at Armstrong 911 received reports of lightning strikes at West Kittanning homes at 119 Lincoln St., 327 Garfield St. and 418 Pine Hill Road.

Borough fire department first assistant chief Tim Hetrick said another home on Sioux Avenue was struck, while firefighters determined that the Pine Hill Road residence wasn't.

"As far as we could tell, it wasn't," he said, adding that a microwave had been damaged.

Residents in the vicinity of those homes experienced damage to breakers, computers, microwaves and televisions, Hetrick said.

Also reported to 911 as being struck by lightning was a residence at 365 Franklin Ave. in Applewold, according to dispatchers.

Borough second assistant chief Tim Lasitis said firefighters weren't sure if the house had been directly hit or if lightning struck wires connected to it and traveled inside. Nothing was burning in the home, he said, but the television and computers had been damaged.

Dispatchers said that in addition to the lightning strike reports, a few trees had been reported down in Manor Township.